Metrodome Memories

The Twins signed workhorse starter Livan Hernandez to help fill the void left after the trade of Johan Santana.  The Twins inked him to a one year, $5 million deal after a mediocre season for the NL west champion Arizona Diamondbacks last season.

Hernandez is best known for eating innings.  He’s thrown 200 innings every year since 2000 including a season where he threw 255 innings back in 2004.    The only season he didn’t throw 200 innings since 1998 was in 1999 when he had a mere 199 2/3 innings.  He walks his share of guys and while he doesn’t strikeout a ton of hitters, he can get the punch out when he needs it.   Not a bad pickup for just $5 million.

Francisco Liriano is expected to be late for camp.  Reporting day is tomorrow but Liriano gave word that he can’t get there on time because of visa problems.  Liriano won’t be dinged at all because the new state department policies that are involved were unknown to the team.

In a mailbag column by Kelly Thesier, fans speak out on the departure of Johan Santana.  The emails were across the board from disappointed to upset.  One guy was a season ticket holder and he wondered why the Twins didn’t go with the Yankees offer.  The final email was particularly encouraging and it talked about how the Twins wouldn’t have won in 1991 had they traded their then ace, Frank Viola.

It seemed like a formality, but the Mets signed Johan Santana to a $137.5 million deal that now completes the trade between the Mets and Twins.  The Twins like the longer terms aspects of the deal and while none of these guys will come close to Johan Santana’s talent, if three of these guys play on the big league club, you have to be a little happy with the deal.

In another column, Kevin Goldstein does a remake of the Twins top eleven prospects with Carlos Gomez and Deolis Guerra now topping the list.  Both Humber and Mulvey both make it on there so with the huge loss, the Twins rebuilt their farm system.